Project marks largest job-creation announcement in Christian County in over 2 decades

FRANKFORT, KY - On Dec. 19, 2024, Gov. Andy Beshear announced one of the largest job-creation projects in the commonwealth since the start of his administration as Kitchen Food Co., an Australia-founded premium ready-meals business, will locate a new world-class prepared foods facility in Hopkinsville with a $69 million investment creating 925 quality ongoing Kentucky jobs. This represents the single largest job-creation announcement in Christian County in over 20 years, and the fifth largest job-creation project statewide under the Beshear-Coleman administration.

“Today’s announcement is a great reminder that Kentucky’s economic momentum is not only here to stay, but that the commonwealth is open and ready for companies from all over the world to establish their New Kentucky Home,” said Gov. Beshear. “This project represents the single largest job-creation announcement in Christian County in over two decades, which means countless new opportunities for Kentuckians in Hopkinsville and the surrounding region to provide for themselves and their families. I want to thank Christian Avramides and Daniel Borenstein of Kitchen Food Co. for choosing and believing in our great state. I look forward to watching their success and growth here in the commonwealth.”

The project will see the company establish an ultra-modern manufacturing facility in Hopkinsville, its first operation in the United States, located in a 100,000-square-foot facility. Construction and building renovations are expected to begin early in 2025 and be completed in the summer of 2026. The 925 jobs created will include operations and production managers, HR managers, accountants, technical managers, engineers, supervisors, machine operators, forklift drivers and process and warehouse operatives.

“What began as a passion for sharing healthy fresh meals with our local community in Sydney, Australia, has now brought us to Hopkinsville, Kentucky, our new home base in the U.S.,” said Kitchen Food Co. co-founder and CEO Christian Avramides. “We have chosen Hopkinsville due to the proactive support and dedication of the local community leadership, coupled with the quality produce, excellent workforce and central location. We are honored to join forces with the wonderful people of Kentucky as we start this new chapter, bringing flavorful, nutritious and affordable meal options to American families, made fresh daily in Kentucky.”

“Our company has a strong tradition of loyalty and developing talent from within,” added Kitchen Food Co. co-founder and CEO Daniel Borenstein. “Many of our senior leaders started on the factory floor, and we look forward to offering similar opportunities for growth and advancement to the residents of Kentucky.”

Kitchen Food Co., founded in 2002 in Sydney, Australia, is a family-owned and -operated quality food business that has been at the forefront of providing nutritious, convenient and affordable ready meals to the Australian market since inception. Known for its commitment to quality, innovation and the community, Kitchen Food Co. is excited to expand its mission of “nourishing communities with wholesome and accessible meal options” to the United States.

Christian County Judge/Executive Jerry Gilliam thanked the leadership and partnerships at the local, regional and state levels for their efforts in the project: “Christian County is always eager to welcome new ag-related industries. Kitchen Food Co.’s facility will produce ready-made meals sourcing local and regional produce while investing nearly $70 million and creating over 900 jobs. We are thrilled they’ve chosen to locate in our region and proud to have partnered with the Governor’s office, Cabinet for Economic Development, TVA, city of Hopkinsville, Hopkinsville Community College and regional planning and workforce partners to secure the company’s investment.”

Hopkinsville Mayor James R. Knight is excited to welcome the company to the community: “The city of Hopkinsville is honored to be the new home of Kitchen Food Co.’s first U.S. facility. Their choice to locate in Hopkinsville is further validation that our community is a great place to do business with low taxes and an affordable cost of living. We look forward to working with the company’s leadership and helping them succeed for generations to come.”

John Bradley, TVA senior vice president of Economic Development Council, noted the job opportunities and investment the company will bring to the region: “TVA and Pennyrile RECC congratulate Kitchen Food Co. on its decision to establish operations and create new job opportunities in Hopkinsville. Working to attract companies creating jobs and investments in the region is fundamental to TVA’s mission of service. We are proud to partner with the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development and Southwestern Kentucky EDC to further that mission and look forward to Kitchen Food Co.’s future business success here.”

Carter Hendricks, executive director of the Southwestern Kentucky Economic Development Council, welcomes the company to the community and looks forward to their success in the commonwealth: “We are excited to welcome Kitchen Food Co. to southwestern Kentucky as they are set to purchase our 100,000-square-foot shell building in Hopkinsville’s Commerce Park for their first U.S. based facility. Their investment will mark the region’s first Australian and twenty fourth international company. With their company leadership and strong performance combined with our region’s agricultural assets, workforce and distribution advantages, we are confident the company will succeed and grow in our less taxing, more relaxing region.”

Kitchen Food Co.’s investment and job creation build on the best four-year period for economic growth in state history.

Since the beginning of his administration, Gov. Beshear has announced more than 1,100 private-sector new-location and expansion projects totaling over $35 billion in announced investments, creating more than 59,800 jobs. This is the highest investment figure secured during the tenure of any governor in the commonwealth’s history and $14 billion more than the next highest total.

The robust job creation has been accompanied by rising wages across the commonwealth. Since 2022, the average incentivized hourly wage has topped $26 in three consecutive years for the first time.

Gov. Beshear has announced some of the largest economic development projects in state history, which have solidified Kentucky as the electric vehicle battery production capital of the United States: Ford Motor Co. and SK On’s transformative $5.8 billion, 5,000-job BlueOval SK Battery Park in Hardin County; AESC’s $2 billion, 2,000-job gigafactory project in Warren County; Toyota’s $1.3 billion investment in Scott County; Shelbyville Battery Manufacturing’s $712 million investment, creating 1,572 jobs in Shelby County; and INFAC North America’s $53 million investment in Taylor County, among others.

The Governor’s administration also secured the largest General Fund budget surplus and Rainy Day Fund, as well as the most jobs filled in state history. Last year, Kentucky set the record for the longest period with the lowest unemployment rates in state history.

Kentucky also secured rating increases from major credit rating agencies Fitch Ratings, S&P Global Ratings and Moody’s Investors Service.

In March, Site Selection magazine ranked Kentucky third nationally and first in the South Central region for economic development projects per capita in its 2023 Governor’s Cup rankings. In April, Site Selection placed Kentucky second in the South Central region and in the top 10 nationally in its 2024 Prosperity Cup ranking, which recognizes state-level economic development agencies for their success in landing capital investment projects.

Gov. Beshear announced a Supply Kentucky initiative with the goal of boosting job growth, reducing costs and providing more security in the supply chains of our Kentucky companies. And last month, the Governor announced a new initiative, called New Kentucky Home, to increase economic investment, attain and attract talent, and increase tourism across the state.

To encourage investment and job growth in the community, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) in June preliminarily approved an incentive agreement with the company under the Kentucky Business Investment program. The performance-based agreement can provide tax incentives based on the company’s investment and annual targets of:

• Creation and maintenance of 925 Kentucky-resident, full-time jobs across 15 years; and
• Paying an average hourly wage of $29 including benefits across those jobs.

KEDFA approved Kitchen Food Company for additional incentives through the Kentucky Enterprise Initiative Act (KEIA). KEIA allows approved companies to recoup Kentucky sales and use tax on construction costs, building fixtures, equipment used in research and development and electronic processing.

In addition, Kitchen Food Company can receive resources from Kentucky’s workforce service providers. Those include no-cost recruitment and job placement services, reduced-cost customized training and job-training incentives.

For more information on Kitchen Food Company, visit kitchenfoodcompany.com.

A detailed community profile for Christian County can be viewed here.

Information on Kentucky’s economic development efforts and programs is available at CED.ky.gov. Fans of the Cabinet for Economic Development can also join the discussion at facebook.com/CEDkygov, on Twitter @CEDkygov, Instagram @CEDkygov and LinkedIn.